Secretariat - Gender Section

At the Istanbul Summit in 1999, OSCE participating States agreed that the full and equal exercise by women of their human rights is essential to achieving a more peaceful, prosperous and democratic OSCE area. 

In 2000, the OSCE adopted its first Action Plan for Gender Issues, followed in 2004 by a more comprehensive plan endorsed at the Sofia Ministerial Council meeting. The 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality states that gender equality contributes to security in the Organization's three areas of work: the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human dimensions.

The 2004 Action Plan

The Action Plan calls on the OSCE to promote gender equality both within the Organization and its participating States. It has three main goals:  

• to promote gender equality projects within priority areas,
• to incorporate a gender perspective into all OSCE activities, and 
• to ensure responsibility for achieving gender balance in the representation among OSCE staff and a professional working environment where women and men are treated equally.

The implementation of the Action Plan is monitored regularly and reviewed through the Secretary General's Annual Evaluation Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan.

The Gender Section

The Gender Section supports the Secretary General in promoting gender equality within the Organization mainly by assisting OSCE staff in implementing the Action Plan. In addition to preparing the Annual Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan, the Section reports on and highlights gender issues at various forums.

Furthermore, the Section co-operates with other international organizations such as the United Nations. It shares information and co-operates regularly with the following actors working on gender-specific issues in the OSCE: 

• Gender focal points are appointed in each field operation, institution and Secretariat department to assist in promoting gender equality. 
• The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) initiates and supports gender projects carried out by field operations. 
• The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has appointed a Special Representative on Gender Issues.